I came back but the world is still a fantasy!? Chapter 02-02: Mistake

—-When I exited the tunnel, what was waiting for me on the other side was

another world—-

In a corner of the street was a giant monitor showing the image of two men shaking hands as countless cameras flashed.

They were none other than the prime minister of the country and the president of the world called Garesto.

The people passing by continued to walk toward their respective destinations, not sparing a single glance.

This was a common sight and everyone was all too familiar with it. Or at least everyone, except for a lone boy who caught himself gasping.

He had an odd helpless aura about him; almost like that of a child who didn’t know the town and lost his way.

He shook his head in his mind, as if telling himself, ‘That’s impossible’, but it was also true that he didn’t recognize the town.

The people passing by carried with them tablets he had never before seen.

The buildings were shaped oddly.

The fashion the people followed was different.

Mannequins were lined up behind store windows, but they were not dressed in dresses or shirts, but in strange armors.

People who looked like members of the JSDF even nonchalantly walked around as if it was perfectly normal.

And to top it all off, what was once a sea of raven and chestnut-colored hair, was now mixed with seemingly natural blondes.

And yet the people passing by went about their way as if all this was perfectly normal.

This was a town he used to frequent a lot, and yet now, here he was, unable to recognize it.

“Shinichi, what are you doing? I’m going to leave you behind!”

When that cheerful voice called out to him from behind, for a moment, the boy truly thought his heart would stop.

It was not because she suddenly called out to him, but because “she” didn’t realize how close she was being.

Realizing how rattled he was, his breath started to choke.

“!? Ah, y-yes. Sorry, Ms. Rinko.”

The young woman whom he’d just recently met smiled at him.

The boy didn’t know why, but for some reason he caught himself wanting to cry.

He didn’t want to cry, so he immediately hardened his face, and lowered his head.

The resulting expression gave the woman the impression of a dissatisfied yet complex face. But without dwelling too much on it, she immediately pulled his hand.

“Come on! The two of them are waiting! Let’s go!”

“Ah, I can walk by myself, you don’t need to hold my hand!”

“Don’t be shy! Don’t be shy!
The reason we’re going out is to buy stuff for you after all. Let’s go buy some clothes first.
To tell you the truth, it’s always been my dream to pick out clothest for a young man!”

Seeing her truly smile from the bottom of her heart as she accompanied him, he couldn’t help but wryly smile.

More like the author just wrote on and halfway thought: ‘Hmm I should have expanded more of the story before to clear stuff up’ kind of feeling. Why else would there be 0X-?? He doesn’t know where to place it in his release order.
If the author wants it to be read in release order, why would he put chronological numbers next to it?
(people get confused all of a sudden XD)

Well I’m with you, if the author posted it this way and meant for it to be read like this then it’s fine. This one is kind of short and disorienting but I guess it is matter of getting used to it. Thanks for the translation 👍 ✌